The Best Albums Of 1994

Take a trip back to the year of Parklife, Definitely Maybe, Live Through This, Ill Communication and the last days of Kurt Cobain.

1. April: Blur - Parklife

The band released their third album, which set the Britpop train rolling in earnest and included the title track, Girls And Boys, End Of A Century, To The End and This Is A Low.

2. February: Green Day - Dookie

The trio's third album (and major label debut) saw them hit the big time with hits like Basket Case, Longview, When i Come Around and Welcome To Paradise.

3. February: Therapy? - Troublegum

The fourth album from the Northern Irish band featured the track Screamager, plus a cover of Joy Division's Isolation.

4. March: Beck - Mellow Gold

Mr Hansen's third album included the classic Loser, which was first released as a single in 1993.

5. March: Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral

At last! The band finally released the follow-up to their debut album… five years later. Tracks included Love Spreads, Ten Storey Love Song and Begging You.

6. March: Soundgarden - Superunknown

The fourth album from Chris Cornell's rock monsters included the hit Black Hole Sun.

7. March: Morrissey - Vauxhall And I

Moz's fourth solo album featured Hold On To Your Friends and The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get.

8. March: Primal Scream - GIve Out But Don't Give Up

The fourth album by Bobby Gillespie and co featured the tracks Rocks and Jailbird.

9. April: Hole - Live Through This

Courtney Love's second album was released only four days after the body of husband Kurt Cobain was found dead. The album took on a whole new meaning and tracks included Doll Parts and Miss World.

10. April: Pulp - His 'N' Hers

The band's fourth album saw Jarvis Cocker's eccentric wordsmithery make the mainstream, thanks to tracks like Babies and Do You Remember The First Time?

11. May: Weezer - Weezer (The Blue Album)

River Cuomo put nerd-rock back on the map with this classic debut, which included Buddy Holly, Say It Ain't So and Undone (The Sweater Song).

12. May: Beastie Boys - Ill Communication

The trio's fourth album featured the classics Sabotage, Sure Shot and Root Down.

13. June: Ride - Carnival Of Light

The band's third album saw them explore a new, more retro psychedelic sound.

14. July: The Prodigy - Music For The Jilted Generation

The second album from the band featured the classics No Good (Start The Dance) and Poison.

15. August: Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible

The third album by the Welsh band was the last to be released before Richey Edwards disappeared in February 1995. Tracks included Faster, PCP, Revol and She Is Suffering.

16. August: Portishead - Dummy

The Bristol trip hop collective released their debut album, which included Sour Times, and Glory Box.

17. August: Orbital - Snivilisation

The dance duo released their third album, which included Sad But True, featuring guest vocals from Alison Goldfrapp.

18. August: Oasis - Definitely Maybe

The Gallaghers released their classic debut album, which included Shakermaker, Live Forever, Supersonic, Rock And Roll Star and Cigarettes And Alcohol.

19. August: Jeff Buckley - Grace

Buckley released his only studio album in 1994, three years before his untimely death. It features Hallelujah, Lilac Wine and Last Goodbye.

20. September: Sugar - File Under Easy Listening

The second full length album (not counting 1993's mini-LP Beaster) was to be the last offering from Bob Mould's power rock trio.

21. September: R.E.M. - Monster

The band's ninth album included What's The Frequency Kenneth?, Crush With Eyeliner and Michael Stipe's tribute to Kurt Cobain, Let Me In.

22. October: Suede - Dog Man Star

The second album from the Brit Pop stalwarts was the last to feature guitarist Bernard Butler and featured We Are The Pigs and The Wild Ones.

23. October: Dodgy - Homegrown

The second album by the trio featured the classic Staying Out For The Summer.

24. November: Pearl Jam - Vitalogy

The fourth album by Eddie Vedder's rockers featured Spin The Black Circle and Dissident.

25. November: Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York

Originally recorded in November 1993, the session was repeatedly endlessly on MTV in the weeks following Kurt Cobain's death in April of 1994. As well as acoustic versions of Nirvana songs, the show featured covers of Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World and the traditional blues song Where Did You Sleep Last Night.

26. December: The Stone Roses - The Second Coming

At last! The band finally released the follow-up to their debut album… five years later. Tracks included Love Spreads, Ten Storey Love Song and Begging You.

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